ANKARA - Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Wednesday, ''the Prime Ministry motion about deployment of foreign soldiers in Turkey and dispatch of Turkish soldiers abroad, can be debated at the parliament on Thursday. It is not correct to say something at this point whether two parts of the motion will be put to vote separately. We will act in line with the by-law.''
Arinc paid a visit to Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal.
Speaking at the meeting, Arinc said, ''the motion was submitted to the parliament yesterday. I have been working on it. The motion will possibly be taken onto parliamentary agenda on Thursday.''
''Both the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) and the CHP have been acting with great sensitivity on such an important issue. They have been trying to determine their attitude about the motion. We hope that our parliament will take the most correct decision. Meanwhile, I hope that none of the deputies will use this motion for their own political purposes,'' he said.
Meanwhile, CHP leader Baykal said in his part that the CHP group would convene tomorrow to make a last assessment before the session of the Parliamentary General Assembly.
Baykal said that he was very pleased by the fact that Parliament Speaker Arýnc continues relations with the government and the opposition in a democratic understanding.
When asked whether or not the parts in the motion would be voted separately and what would be the attitude of CHP, Baykal said that ''I don't know how it will be voted. We explained our attitude. Turkey's sending soldiers should not be consider being a part of the military action, which the United States planned to launch in order to change the regime in Iraq and to occupy Iraq. We do not consider Turkey's sending soldiers to Northern Iraq a part of the occupation plan of a third country. According to our point of view, another country's occupying Iraq is not rightful.''
''If an occupation operation or a military action is launched against Iraq, it is right and responsibility of Turkey to take all necessary measures against such a war. Turkey should enter Northern Iraq whoever starts the war. Turkey has to provide its border security. We will support the government's request to this end,'' Baykal added.
Meanwhile, Arinc noted, ''I cannot make any statement at this point. We will act in line with rules of the by-law.''
(UK-ÖS-AÖ) 26.02.2003